Bridle-bit



(No Model.)

A. W. HELMS. BRIDLE BIT.

No; 475,110. PatentedMay 17,1892.-

UNITED STATES A PATENT OFFICE.

ALLEN WJHELMS, OF AYLESWORTH, INDIANA.

BRlDLE-BIT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,110, dated May 17,1892.

Application filed February 12, 1892- Sarial No. 421,311. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLEN W. HELMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Aylesworth, in the county of Fountain and State of Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to bridle-bits, and aims to provide a bit thatcan be conveniently and quickly converted into either of thevariously-known bits without entailing any very great expense, and whichwill be efficient and give satisfactory results.

The improvement consists of the novel features and the peculiarconstruction and combination of the parts, which will be hereinaftermore fully described and claimed, and which are shown in the annexeddrawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bit embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the frame. Fig. 3 is a detail viewof the slide which attaches the bit to the frame, and which isconstructed to bind upon and grip the side bars of the said frame andhold the bit at the adjusted position.

The frame, which is formed from a single piece of stout wire, comprisesthe side bars A and the nose-bar B. The side bars A are deflected at apoint about midway of the ends of the said side bars to bring thenose-bar B in the proper position, and the latter is slightly curved toconform to the animals nose. The side bars A are constructed to springapart at their free ends, and to assist this action and obviate a toogreat tension on the said side bars spring-loopsa are provided at thecorners of the frame. These loops at also serve as points of attachmentfor the overdraw or check reins.

The bit is supported bet-ween the side bars A and may be of any desiredform. In the present instance it is shown as composed of two bars E andE, which are secured at their opposite ends to slides D, that aremounted upon the side bars A, and which are held in the located positionupon the said side bars by frictional contact. The free ends of the barsE E extend through and are supported by staples d, which are attached tothe said slides D. The rings 0 at the lower or free ends of the sidebars are removable to permit.

the removal of the said slides D from the side bars A, and are held uponthe said side bars by a screw connection. The nose-bar is suitablycushioned to add to the comfort of the animal. The slides are preferablyconstructed of stout sheet metal, which is cut to the required form andbent about as shown in the drawings, forming an opening d at one edge,which receives the frame-wire. This construction admit-s of opening dbeing slightly smaller than the frame-wire, so that the said slide canbe forced on the frame-wire and will bind thereon by friction, themeeting parts of the slide yielding slightly to admit the passage of thesaid frame-wire.

Having thus described my'invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. Abridle-bit composed of a frame having the side and the nose barsintegrally formed, slides removably attached to the said side bars, anda bit secured to the said slides, substantially as described.

2. A bridle-bit composed of a frame having the side and the nose barsintegrally formed and having spring-loops a, slides removably attachedto the said side bars of the frame, and a bit attached to the saidslides, substantially as described.

3. The hereinbefore shown and described bridle-bit, composed of a framehaving the side bars A and the nose-bar B integrally formed and havingspring-loops a at the corners of the frame, the rings 0, removablyattached to the free ends of the side bars A, the slides D, removablyconnected with the said side bars, and the bit supported by the saidslides D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affixmy signatu re in presence of two witnesses.

ALLEN W. HELMS. Witnesses:

L. G. DYNES, J. A. DYNES.

